Photo By Cpl. Chelsea Anderson | Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Ratliff, HMLA-773 aerial observer, fires an M2 .50-caliber...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. – A visiting squadron illustrated the combat effectiveness of a UH-1N Huey from the Yuma air station July 21.
Before takeoff, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 Marines armed the UH-1N Huey with an M240 machine gun and an M2 .50-caliber machine gun manned by Sgt. Lucas W. Anderson, crew chief and native of Mount Horeb, Wis., and Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Ratliff, aerial observer and native of Olivet, Mich.
The Huey and its crew left the flight line on a close air support exercise as part of Operation Javelin Thrust 2011. An AH-1W Super Cobra and F/A-18 Hornets also accompanied the Huey to complete a trio of combat aircraft.
The pilot of the Huey, Maj. Adrian B. Romero, Marine Aircraft Group 49 Detachment C executive officer, coordinated via radio with the other aircraft during the maneuver toward the simulated targets.
The Huey, although able to insert and extract, is best used for its fighting capabilities, said Anderson. Much of this is due to the Huey’s ability to get almost 180-degree enemy coverage with the bird’s rockets and gunners on both sides of the helicopter.
“We’re like the bodyguards of the Corps,” said Anderson.
In this exercise, the HMLA-773 Marines were ready to show off just what they were capable of. The simulated attack began with F/A-18 inert bombings, followed by a Cobra attack with 2.75 high-explosive rockets from a 20 mm turret on the front of the bird.
When the smoke and dust cleared, the Huey crew was ready for some action of their own. With Ratliff and Anderson on the machine guns, both let loose on the targets beneath the aircraft’s powerful presence. Capable of penetrating concrete and vehicle armor, the M2 .50-caliber machine gun can cause significant damage, even from a helicopter, said Ratliff.
The gunners weren’t just blindly firing away, however. The attack was a team effort involving everyone in the crew. The coordination between pilots and the gunners on the aerial attack was pivotal to success, said Ratliff. The Marines were able to communicate through the crew’s radio-wired helmets,
“You don’t want to surprise the pilot when you shoot,” said Anderson. “The pilot tells you when to fire and helps you get in a better position to hit the target.”
When the simulated targets were destroyed, the Huey headed back to a refueling and ammunition station. The Marines there refueled and loaded the Huey with ammunition before their night mission.
Since it was low-light conditions, meaning no moonlight, the crew chiefs and pilots aboard the Huey utilized night vision goggles to allow visualization of the targets identified. Additionally, the Huey was equipped with a forward-looking infrared camera on the front, which displayed the location of heat-producing objects on a screen for the pilot. This technology helped the pilot locate and navigate toward targets.
In spite of technology, shooting in these conditions was no easy feat, even for veterans like Ratliff, who has been flying for four and a half years.
“We use the lasers on our guns to check our targets before we shoot,” said Anderson. The pilot then makes sure the coordinates of the laser match up with the location of the objective before clearing the gunners to engage, he said.
The ability for the HMLA-773 Marines to perform both in daylight and in low light is critical for aerial attack success. The close air support exercise helps keep the pilots and crew current and on top of their game, preparing them for a deployed environment.
“That exercise is about as real as it gets,” said Ratliff.
| Date Taken: | 07.21.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.24.2011 15:06 |
| Story ID: | 74232 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 378 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Javelin Thrust Marines practice close air support, by Cpl Chelsea Anderson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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